Centre moots inter-ministerial panel to discuss MSP issue

NEW DELHI: The government has offered to form a new committee with representation from ministries such as agriculture, rural and animal husbandry to discuss with farmers their demand that there should be a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, according to sources.

Several farmer groups in Punjab and Haryana have planned a protest march to Delhi on February 13 over the issue of MSP.

While the government did not give any commitment on MSP guarantee, another meeting is expected before February 13.


A central government team, including ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai, met farmer representatives in Chandigarh on Thursday. "They offered to form another committee which will meet frequently, in a time-bound manner," said a farmer representative, adding that the committee formed after the previous protest has not come out with a conclusive outcome despite meeting several times.

On November 19, 2021, after the three farm laws were repealed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the establishment of a new committee - widely recognised as the Committee on MSP - that was tasked with deliberating on matters related to MSP, promoting zero-budget natural farming (ZBNF) practices, and determining crop patterns. This was formed in July 2022.

The sources cited earlier said the meeting occurred in a conducive environment, with BJP ministers engaging in open discussions about our demands.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, a non-political faction of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, had called for "Dilli Chalo" protest march for February 13 and have been preparing for it, keeping their tractors ready.